Flatwork ironer



Nov. 15, 1949 B. E. MAXON FLATWORK IRONER Filed March 8, 1947 INVENTOR. sauce E. MAXQN.

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 15, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLATWORK IRONER Bruce E. Maxon, Cincinnati, Ohio Application March 8, 1947, Serial No. 733,289

9Claiml.

This invention pertains flat work ironing I machines and is particularly directed to improvements in the construction, operation, and arrangement of such machines.

One of the chief objects of this invention is to provide, in a flat work ironing machine, a steam chest of novel form which provides a maximum of ironing surface and at the same time requires a minimum of floor space.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a flat work ironing machine a steam chest of substantially clover-leaf design in which the ironing contact of the work being ironed is made around substantially the entire surface of the steam chest.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel design which permits of a maximum reduction in weight of the ironing machine while maintaining a high degree of ironing efficiency.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flat work ironing machine with a series of three rolls triangularly spaced relative to each other, in between which is located a common steam chest operatively engaging all three of said rolls to effect an ironing operation,

It is also an object of this invention to provide a fiat work, ironing machine with a series of suitably spaced ironing rolls, each engaging a common steam chest of clover-leaf shape in such a manner that the work fed through the machine is in contact with substantially the entire outer surface of the steam chest in effecting an ironing operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a multiple roll flat work ironing machine a series of clover-leaf steam chests each having a series of ironing rolls associated therewith and operating simultaneously so as to provide a multiple roll fiat work ironer in which the work is in substantially complete contact with the entire ironing surfaces of said steam chests.

And a still further object is to provide in a multiple roll flat work ironing machine having a series of clover-leaf steam chests and a series of ironing rolls associated therewith and operating simultaneously to effect an ironing operation on both sides of the work.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appear from a detailed description of the drawings in which:

Figure I.is a diagrammatic perspective view, partly broken away, showing a flat work ironing machine incorporatin the novel steam chest mechanism of applicant's invention.

Figure II is a diagrammatic showing of an arrangement incorporating applicant's steam chest of Figure I in a machine in which a plurality of steam chest arrangements are interconnected to form a multiple roll high capacity ironing machine.

As an exemplary embodiment of this invention, there is shown, in Figure I, a flat work ironing machine having a frame I which supports the steam chest 2 in any suitable manner. This steam chest is formed with a series of concave surfaces 3, l, and 5 which terminate in convex or lobe portion surfaces 6 so as to form a continuous ironing surface of substantially clover-leaf shape around the entire outside of the steam chest 2.

A series of pressing and feeding rolls 1, 8, and 9 are respectively associated with the concave ironing portions 3, 4, and 5 of the steam chest. These rolls may move to and from the steam chest along the radial lines III by suitable journal means and screw down mechanisms of well known character which will not be described in detail as they form no part'of this invention. A continuous apron II is passed over the periphery of the roll 1 and between this roll and the concave surface 3 of the steam chest, then over the lobe portion 6 between rolls 1 and 8 and between the roll 8 and concave portion 4 of the steam chest. The belt then proceeds over the next lobe portion 6 between the rolls 8 and 9 and over the concave portion surface 5 of the steam chest associated with the roll 9 and then passes partially outwardly under the remaining lobe portion 6 between the rolls 5 and I and over an idler roll I2 and then downwardly over a second idler roll 13 at the lower rear portion of the machine frame and then upwardly over a third idler roll I! back to the roll I.

In this particular embodiment, the rolls I, 8, and 9 are simultaneously driven, by a, suitable ,motor and power transmission of well known character, in a counterclockwise direction. The work W is initially fed into the machine by the feed ribbons 15 which are driven from the roller l6 and pass over the guide rod ll so that the work first engages between the roll I and steam chest concave surface 3 and passes around over the lobe 6, between rolls 1 and 8, over the concave surface 4 of the steam chest, over the lobe 6 between rolls 8 and 9, and through the concave portion 5 and is finally delivered out by the delivery portion lid of the apron I I above the idler roll l2. Thus, in this arrangement, the work is initially fed in from the same side of the machine to which it is again returned by the delivery apron portion lld. Suitable drive is provided for rotating the roller I6 in proper timed relationship with the movement of the apron II to effect the proper entrance of the work into the ironer.

It will thus be noted that the path traversed by the work is in continuous contact with the steam chest from the time the work contacts the chest at the point I8 until it emerges from contact with the steam chest at the point Is to thus provide a maximum of ironing surface while at the same time having a steam chest of small overall dimensions, light-weight, and space-saving character. In this arrangement of steam chest and ironing rolls, it is apparent that substantially no portion of the steam chest is exposed and unused for ironing with the result that heat loss is minimized. Only a small portion of the lobe 6 between rolls I and 9 is exposed in nonironing relationship to the apron and work being driven through the machine. Thus, not only is weight and space saved, but also the substantially complete insulation of the steam chestby the work and apron around its periphery is thereby obtained. It will also be noted that the actual pressing of the work piece by the rolls 1, 8, and 9 is effective on more than half of the steam chest surface, the concave ironing portions 3, 4, and forming at least half the peripheral area of the clover-leaf shaped steam chest 2.

This invention is also well adapted to a machine wherein there is a plurality of clover-leaf shaped steam chests each having a plurality of rolls in ironing engagement therewith. Referring particularly to Figure II, there is noted an exemplary arrangement wherein two steam chests 2a and 2b, similar to the chest 2 in Figure I, are utilized. In this particular arrangement, these chests 2a and 2b are carried on an appropriate frame la of usual structure and which will not be described in detail as this arrangement is well known and forms no specific part of applicant's present invention. Associated with the steam chest 2a are the pressure rolls Ia, 8a, and So, each of which are positioned in the concave areas 311, 4a, and 5a of the steam chest 2a. In this arrangement, the three rolls 1a, 8a, and 9a are rotated together by appropriate means in a counterclockwise direction. The work is placed on the feed ribbons l5a which are driven from a suitable roll I61: and guided by the rod I la so that the work enters at the point la. The apron Ila, passing over the roll Ia, carries the work W through the arcuate portion 3a where the roll la effects ironing action, around over the lobe portion 6a of the chest 2a, to the roll 8a and through the concave portion 4a, around over the lobe portion 6a between the rolls 8a and 9a. The work is conducted then through the concave portion So by the roll 9a to emerge from the first steam chest 2a at the point I911. The apron Ila continues on around over the roll 9:: and is guided by the idler roll I311. The apron ll'a then is guided by the roll lb, associated with the second steam chest 2b, then back over the idler roll to complete its circuit.

As the work emerges from the point I9a associated with the steam chest 2a, it is picked up between the apron Ila and the apron llb which is guided over the idler roll l2a and by the roll 9a, during which time the work is held between both the aprons Ila and llb as these aprons and the work pass over the idler roll I3a up to the over an idler pulley l3c, Ha, back to the roll la portion 6b between the roll 86 and the final roll 9b. After the work passes through the concave portion 5b, associated with the roll 9b, it is conducted down to the delivery apron 20 from which the finished work is removed from the machine. The apron Ilb continues on downwardly over the guide roll 2| and the guide roll 22 and finally over the guide roll 23 back to the initial entrance roll I2a.

It will be noted that the rolls related to the second steam chest 21) are rotated in a clockwise or opposite direction from that of the rolls in the first series of ironing rolls asosciated with the steam chest 2a. It is also to be noted that by the utilization of a plurality of the steam chest arrangements, a very compact machine capable of ironing both sides of the work is provided which is both light in weight and has a maximum of ironing surfaces 3a, 4a, and 5a; and 3b, lb, and 5b closely coupled together in a compact machine structure. Thus, the distance between the feed ribbons l5a and the final discharge or delivery.

apron 20 is minimized while maintaining a maximum of ironing area in the machine. This greattion, it is to be understood that the apparatus is capable of mechanical alteration without departing from the spirit of the invention and that such mechanical arrangements and commercial adaptations as fall within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be included herein.

Having thus fully set forth and described this invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a flat work ironing machine, a steam chest, three concave ironing surfaces of substantially the same size and shape and equi-angularly spaced apart on said steam chest, three ironing pressure rolls, each of said rolls being operatively associated with one of said concave ironing surfaces, and lobe portions on said steam chest with one lobe portion projecting between each pair of said rolls.

-2. In a fiat work ironing machine, a steam chest, three concave ironing surfaces of substantially the same size and shape and equi-angularly spaced apart on said steam chest, three ironing pressure rolls, each of said rolls being operatively associated with one of said concave ironing surfaces, lobe portions on said steam chest with one lobe portion projecting between each pair of said rolls, and a feed apron driven by said rolls passing over said concave ironing portions and said lobe portions.

3. In a fiat work ironing machine, a steam chest, three concave ironing surfaces of substantially the same size and shape and equi-angularly spaced apart on said steam chest, three ironing pressure rolls, each of said rolls being operatively associated with one of said concave ironing surfaces, lobe portions on said steam chest with one lobe portion projecting between each pair of said SJSQOBO rolls, a feeding apron driven by said rolls passing over said concave ironing portions and said lobe portions in uninterrupted contact with substantially all of the outside surface of said steam chest, and means for initially presenting the work to be ironed between one of said rolls and its associated concave ironing surface on the steam chest.

4. In combination in a flat work ironing machine, a steam chest having a substantially cloverleaf cross-section comprising a series of concave ironing surfaces and convex lobe portions merging in a continuous surface of continuity around said steam chest, a series of pressing rolls operatively associated with said concave surfaces, an apron guided by said rolls over said concave surfaces and convex lobe portions of said steam chest, and means for entering and removing work from between said apron and said steam chest at the same lobe portion of said steam chest.

ii. In a flat work ironing machine, a steam chest, a plurality of concave ironing surfaces about said chest uniformly distributed about its periphery, a plurality of pressing rolls arranged about said chest and extending into said ironing surfaces, lobe portions on said steam chest, each rolls on opposite sides of one of said lobes thereby exposing the said one lobe, and means for feeding work through said ironing machine by initially charging said work between the apron and the said one lobe and receiving said work from between the apron and the same said one lobe so as to provide substantially complete contact of the work to be ironed around the entire surface of said steam chest.

8. Incombination in a flat work ironing machine, a steam chest, a series of pressure rollers arranged at the apices of an equilateral triangle about said steam chest, and lobe portions on said steam chest extending between each pair of said rolls; and a work carrying apron driven by said rolls and contacting all of the peripheral surface of said steam chest except the outermost part of one of said lobes.

- I. In an ironing machine, the combination of a steam chest having three uniformly peripherally spaced convex lobe portions interconnected by concave ironing surfaces, three rolls uniformly spaced from each other about said steam chest and operatively associated with said concave ironing surfaces. and a work conducting apron extending about said chest under said rolls to be driven by the rotation of said rolls and engaging all of said concave surfaces and two of said lobes while leaving substantially all of the remaining lobe of said steam chest exposed for the entry and exit of articles to be pressed to and from between said apron and chest.

8. In combination in a flat work ironing machine, a pair of adjacent steam chests each having a substantially clover-leaf configuration in cross-section comprising a series of concave ironing surfaces and convex lobe portions therebetween merging into a continuous surface of continuity around said steam chest, said ironing surfaces and said lobe portions being substantially equi-angularly spaced around their respective chests, a series of pressing rolls operatively associated with said concave surfaces, an apron for each chest passing between the rolls thereof and the said ironing surfaces and over the convex lobe portions of the said'chests, means for introducing work to be ironed between the apron and one side of one of the lobes of one of said steam chests, means for removing the work from between the apron and the other side of the same lobe, and means for conveying the workremoved from the one chest to the other chest and for inserting it between the apron of the said other chest and one side of one of the said lobe portions thereof, said means including idler rolls supporting the aprons of said chests so they run contiguously between the discharge point of the said one chest and the work receiving point of the said other chest.

9. In combination in a flat work ironing machine, a pair of adjacent steam chests each having a substantially clover-leaf configuration in cross-sectioncomprising a series of concave ironing surfaces and convex lobe portions therebetween merging into a continuous surface of continuity around said steam chest, said ironing surfaces and said lobe portions beingsubstantially equi-angularly spaced around their respective chests, a series of pressing rolls operatively associated with said concave surfaces, an apron for each chest passing between the rolls thereof and the said ironing surfaces and over the convex lobe portions of the said chests, means for introducing work to be ironed between the apron and one side of one of the lobes of one of said steam chests, means for removing the work from between the apron and the other side of the same lobe, and means for conveying the work removed from the one chest to the other chest and for inserting it between the apron of the said other chest and one side of one of the said lobe portions thereof, said means including idler rolls supporting the aprons of said chests so they run contiguously between the discharge point of the said one chest and the work receiving point of the said other chest, said aprons being so arranged that opposite sides of the work are pressed on alternate of the said chests whereby a the work is ironed on both sides.

BRUCE MAXON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

